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RE: Programming / scripting languages in tech-writing
Subject:RE: Programming / scripting languages in tech-writing From:"Jane Carnall" <jane -dot- carnall -at- digitalbridges -dot- com> To:"TECHWR-L" <techwr-l -at- lists -dot- raycomm -dot- com> Date:Tue, 7 May 2002 12:15:23 +0100
>Does anybody else on the list use a programming or scripting language in
>their work? If so, which one? And what sort of tasks do you use them for?
Word VBA, when and as required, for doing largescale repetitive tasks on a
regular basis. (My current job does not require this, but I have worked on
largescale doc projects that did.)
I used to mess around with Basic, but I haven't for a while. I am not a
particularly good programmer - when I did mess around with it, it was
usually tweaking other people's games to make them more amusing. <ggg> In my
current job I proofread Javadocs, which entails reading my way through a
whole lot of Java - but I wouldn't say I *use* Java. I just occasionally
spot spelling/continuity mistakes in other people's code, which I gleefully
fix (or politely point out to the owner so that s/he can fix). Tweaking
other people's games is not encouraged. <g>
My degree is in Computing, and therefore technically I have qualifications
in C and COBOL, but practically speaking I would run a mile from any job
that required "knowledge of C/C++". (I liked COBOL, but have never used it
since I graduated.) But C/C++ is a twisted and evil language... our lecturer
used to come in at the start of a session, write a brief line of C on the
whiteboard, and invite us to write it down and tell him what it did next
week. I remain astonished that I actually managed to pass that part of the
course. <shudder>
Jane Carnall
The writers all stand around a cauldron chanting and occasionally tossing in
a small program. Unless stated otherwise, these opinions are mine, and mine
alone. Apologies for the long additional sig: it is added automatically and
outwith my control.
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